Control Of City Clerk, Auditor Could Fall To Elected Officials

FORT LAUDERDALE - — An advisory panel is considering a proposal that would let city commissioners, not the city manager, appoint and oversee the city clerk and internal auditor.

Those officials report to City Manager George Hanbury. But Mayor Jim Naugle wants to change that so the city's records keeper and watchdog would be controlled by elected officials.

"I'm just trying to make the government better," Naugle said.

Earlier this month, the charter revision board discussed the proposed changes and put off a decision until next month. The board is inviting commissioners to its next meeting to get input and has asked for more information on a survey of cities by Horace McHugh, an administrative assistant to Hanbury.

The citizen board makes recommendations to city commissioners, who have the final say on what goes on the September ballot. Voters would have to approve any changes to the city charter before they take effect.

Giving commissioners control over the auditor is intended to free that official from influence by the city manager. Naugle said there have been instances where the auditor brought problems to the city manager and that information never reached the commission.

Broward County has an auditor who reports directly to the commission.

City Commissioner Carlton Moore said he doesn't see the need to change the charter. "I don't see anything wrong with our existing system," he said. "I see no reason to change something that has worked so well."

Don Hall, the charter revision board's chairman, said city commissioners can hire an auditor at any time during the year to look at specific areas. City commissioners are being encouraged for the first time to meet individually with the city's external auditing firm to suggest specific areas of review.

As for the city clerk, Naugle said he believes that position should operate independently of the city manager's office so that information requested of a department head by a commissioner doesn't go through Hanbury before being passed on. Naugle has complained about not getting information he requested or that information has been given to other commissioners and not the mayor.

Moore said he worries about opening the system to election abuses if the clerk, who runs the city's elections, answers directly to commissioners.